XIX ISA World Congress of Sociology (July 15-21, 2018)

365

Global Cities and New Trends in Social Policy

RC19 Sociology of Poverty, Social Welfare and Social Policy (host committee)

Language: English

This session explores how cities and local/municipal governments are increasingly emerging as key sites for poverty and social welfare policy innovations. Historically, local governments have had limited powers to enact social policy which was typically formulated at state/provincial/regional or national levels.  In recent decades, however, there have been global changes in urban local governance. Cities have emerged as important sites for policy innovation as well as the delivery of social investment policy programs.  This panel focuses on how cities are enacting new local policy initiatives.  To this end, we welcome papers that explore a broad array of issues including, but not limited to: new policy innovations; comparisons across the cities in the north and south; examinations of the intersections/partnerships forged between the voluntary sector and local government; explorations of new targets of local government policy intervention.  Topics can address a range of social problems including, among others, poverty, health, housing, newcomer settlement, etc.